Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Frequency-dependent Selection

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...

Plasticity

Plasticity

Plasticity is the property where an object loses its elasticity and undergoes irreversible deformation, even after the deformation forces are eliminated. If a material deforms irreversibly without increasing stress or load, then this is called ideal plasticity. For example, when a force is applied to an aluminum rod, it changes its shape, but it does not return to its original shape once the force is removed. Plastic deformation or ductility is thus a permanent deformation or change in the...

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

Transduction

Transduction

Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

ChemicaL Profiles and Foraging Efficiency in a Carnivorous Plant: Effects of Contrasting Precipitation Regimes.

Journal of chemical ecology·2026

Same author

Belowground mutualists modulate growth and aboveground defense in potato: insights from mycorrhizal and entomopathogenic nematode interactions.

Planta·2025

Same author

The interplay between local biodiversity floral odours and reproductive success varies across different population sizes of <i>Cypripedium calceolus</i>.

Royal Society open science·2025

Same author

Rhizobia-Bean Symbiosis Increases Root Herbivore Attraction and Growth via Volatile Signals and Enhanced Nutrition.

Plant, cell & environment·2025

Same author

Correction: Effect of herbivore load on VOC‑mediated plant communication in potato.

Planta·2024

Same author

Testing the joint effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ants on insect herbivory on potato plants.

Planta·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

Published on: August 22, 2018

Counter-intuitive developmental plasticity induced by host quality.

Gregory Röder¹, Martine Rahier, Russell E Naisbit

¹Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2009 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|January 17, 2008

Summary

Leaf beetle larvae show surprising adaptation, accelerating growth on poor-quality, rust-infected plants. This developmental plasticity helps them complete development in brief alpine summers, despite lower pupal weight.

More Related Videos

Rearing the Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) in Controlled Conditions: A Case Study with Heavy Metal Tolerance

Rearing the Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) in Controlled Conditions: A Case Study with Heavy Metal Tolerance

Published on: August 18, 2023

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Published on: July 12, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

Published on: August 22, 2018

Rearing the Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) in Controlled Conditions: A Case Study with Heavy Metal Tolerance

Rearing the Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) in Controlled Conditions: A Case Study with Heavy Metal Tolerance

Published on: August 18, 2023

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Limited Bedding and Nesting as a Model for Early-Life Adversity in Mice

Published on: July 12, 2024

Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Entomology

Background:

Host adaptation drives specialization and speciation in phytophagous insects and parasites.
Understanding host quality is crucial for studying these evolutionary processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the adaptive responses of leaf beetles to infected host plants.
To explore novel modes of developmental plasticity in plant-insect-fungus interactions.

Main Methods:

Larval rearing experiments with Oreina elongata and Oreina cacaliae on healthy and rust-infected Adenostyles alliariae.
Developmental trait analysis including growth rate, maximum weight, and development time.
Experimental leaf-switching during larval development.

Main Results:

Larvae on infected hosts exhibited reduced growth rate, maximum weight, and longer development time.
Switching to infected leaves accelerated growth and reduced development time, but resulted in lower pupal weight.
Infection by Uromyces cacaliae acts as a cue for life-history trade-offs.

Conclusions:

A novel mode of phenotypic plasticity allows leaf beetles to complete development in a short alpine summer by accelerating growth on poor-quality hosts.
This plasticity modifies competition and selection dynamics in host-parasite systems.
A paradoxical negative correlation between growth rate and environmental quality was observed.